I TIMOTHY 1:18-20

Q: Paul is instructing Timothy to keep his faith, and then states: "...whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme." What is Paul saying?

First, let's dispose of some false understandings of this verse. It has been proposed by some that this verse alludes to the ancient church practice of secretly executing those in their midst who opposed the teachings of Christ. In later times (during the Inquisition, for example), this verse was one of those used to justify torture and burning of heretics. (Dictionary of New Testament Theology, I, 466) Modern commentators, however, are unanimous in stating that this verse refers to a form of excommunication in the case of major moral or doctrinal infractions by church members.

Since the best interpreter of Scripture is Scripture itself, consider some parallel passages:

“If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone...If you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you...If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.” (Matthew 18:15-17)

“Take note of those who do not obey what we say in this letter; have nothing to do with them, so that they may be ashamed. Do not regard them as enemies, but warn them as believers.” (II Thessalonians 3:14-15)

“For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present I have already pronounced judgment in the name of the Lord Jesus on the man who has done such a thing [committed incest with his stepmother]. When you are assembled, and my spirit is present with the power of our Lord Jesus, you are to hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.” (I Corinthians 5:3-5)

This last passage is an especially close parallel to that in I Timothy, and is instructive since it shows the action taking place solemnly with the concurrence of the church. The main areas of uncertainty in the I Corinthians verse concern the exact meaning of the word “flesh” and the means by which Satan will act in this situation.

Those who take the word “flesh” literally are best represented by The New Bible Commentary, which states that the excluded person would thus be “exposed to the dominion of Satan and particularly to his power to inflict physical disease.” Orr and Walther (I Corinthians) go further in stating that destruction of the flesh equals premature death. “Under such circumstances the man would have some time to come to repentance, and so his spirit would finally be saved.”

Others take “flesh” in a more figurative sense. Thus, Manfred Brauch (Hard Sayings of the Bible) and others take “for destruction of the flesh” to mean “so that the sinful nature may be destroyed.” When excluded from the protective sphere of church fellowship filled with examples of the Spirit's transforming power, the excommunicated person could possibly come to his senses.

In either case, it is obvious that the ultimate purpose of the excommunication in these New Testament passages is merciful and corrective, not merely punitive in nature.